The Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant
(HMLP) has recently completed a school
children electric safety program to
increase electrical safety in our
community. HMLP is working with Ray
Gouley, safety consultant, in order
to raise awareness about electrical
safety at the elementary level. The
R.F. Gouley Company is certified to
provide educational safety programs
for power companies all over the United
States. Mr. Gouley recently spoke
about electrical safety to public
school students in grades K-5 at Plymouth
River, Foster and South Elementary
Schools in September and October of
this year.

When Ray Gouley talks about electrical
safety, 1,800 Hingham kids listen.
Gouley presents a lively, age appropriate
presentation conducted in individual
classrooms which includes visual aids,
booklets, certificates, and posters.
A different theme, message and approach
is varied to cater to different ages
and grades.

Gouley uses different mascots to connect
with the different age groups. Mr.
Ouch brings the safety message to
preschool, kindergarten and first
grade students. Kato the Safety Ranger,
The Shocking Truth, and Volton are
among other characters that provide
education information to students
grade 2-5.

"For all grades, I emphasize three
things,"says Gouley. "You
can't see electricity, you can't hear
electricity, and you can't smell it.
That's why you should stay away from
downed power lines."

John
Tzimorangas, General Manager
provides Plymouth River
kindergarteners an up
close look at
an HMLP Linetruck.

One component of the program involves
using utility trucks to demonstrate
the special design of the truck, the
safety equipment and safety procedures
used by line personnel, and the purpose
of the orange cones children often
see on streets and highways. HMLP
was able to provide Plymouth River
students with an up close look at
an electrical linetruck.

Although the program is designed to
be cumulative, with each year building
on the previous years, each unit works
independently by addressing the most
dangerous activities children engage
in at specific ages. "For example",
says Gouley, "toddlers and young
children tend to put electrical cords
in their mouths; pre-adolescent are
tempted to climb into substations
and trees." He feels that it
is important to connect with the children
at a level that they understand.

"Electricity and water don't mix,
so I urge kids who see a hair dryer
near water to tell their parents and
have the hair dryer moved, "
he says. Older kids in the fourth
grade, some of whom have started to
use electric air dryers, are told
not to use them above sinks or other
wet areas.

Mr. David Whiting, Assistant Principal
at the Plymouth River School is very
familiar with the program and has
been very pleased with the way that
the program is run. "This program
is teaching these kids about safety
and electricity and it helps the children
to identify a hazard and keep our
kids safe in the community."
stated Mr. Whiting.

"Safety within our community is
important to HMLP. We are pleased
to be able to offer this type of a
school-based educational program to
raise awareness of the dangers of
electricity." says John G. Tzimorangas,
General Manager of the Hingham Municipal
Light Department. Tzimorangas plans
to work with Gouley in order to continue
with further programs next year.